Unidirectionally driven left- or right-hand spinning reel

ABSTRACT

A spinning reel includes a mounting bracket which supports a housing swingable about a longitudinal axis between opposite releasably locked positions for left or righted use. A bailcarrying rotor is mounted on a shaft projecting into the housing and a crank extends transversely from the housing. Two one-way clutches having a common drive direction are mounted on the shaft and are gear coupled to the crank which rotates them in opposite directions so that the shaft is driven in only one direction independent of the crank direction of rotation.

United States Patent [151 3,635,41 8 Kamei 51 Jan. 18, 1972 [54]UNIDIRECTIONALLY DRIVEN LEFT- FOREIGN PATENTS R APPLICATIONS ORRIGHT-HAND SPINNING REEL 819,539 7/1937 France ..242/84.2 [72] Inventor:Shlkizo Kamei, Kobe Japan 969,584 /1950 France... ..242/84.2l 613,88512/ I948 Great Britain ..242/84.2 C [73] Assignee: Shlnyei Company,Inc., New York, N.Y.

Primary Examiner-Billy S. Taylor [22] Filed: July 3, 1969 Anomey smfleywolder LN 838 922 I r [2 W 0 t [57] g p A spinning reel includes amounting bracket which supports a [52] US. Cl. ..242/84.2l R, 74/812housing swingable about a longitudinal axis between pp [5 II"- Cl.releasably locked positions for left or use bail car [58] Field ofSearch ..242/84.2, 84.2 A, 84.2 B, 84.2 C, tying rotor i ted n a shaftprojecting into thehousing 2 2 842 1 A, 213; 7 /812 and a crank extendstransversely from the housing. Two oneway clutches having a common drivedirection are mounted 5 References Cited on the shaft and are gearcoupled to the crank which rotates them in opposite directions so thatthe shaft is driven in only UNITED STATES PATENTS one directionindependent of the crank direction of rotation. 3,167,272 1/1965 Frode..242/2l3 6 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures ,14 l9 so H 23 42 86 22 3'5 I7 76a4 53 2 2| ,7, 1 28 '8 2 E J 59 27 26 l n Au 73/ i 77 34 I "I 7 I 6's J29 37 -12 T*. .|l

3 I 1 1 I II! I I 38 fl 4' 33 22 I2 p I6 18 UNIDIRECTIONALLY DRIVENLEFT- OR RIGHT-HAND SPINNING REEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thepresent invention relates generally to improvements in fishing reels andit relates more particularly to an improved spinning reel which isselectively adjustable for right-hand or left-handoperation.

The conventional spinning reel includes a longitudinal spool about witha takeup member, for example a rotor-mounted bail is rotated to wind theline onto the spool, the line being withdrawn axially from the spoolattendant to casting by disengaging the bail or other takeupmemberfrom'the line. The takeup member is generally rotated through a geartransmission by'a manually operated side crank. The crank is generallypositioned on the side of the reel which facilitates its use byright-handed persons. The use of such a reel by left-handed persons isvery awkward and inconvenient. It is a common practice for a left-handedperson to order a correspondingly modified reel which is generallyaltered atthe factory at additional expense requiring major alterationsand inconvenience.

While spinning reels have been proposed which are so constructed as topennit their alteration from a right-hand to a left-hand arrangement theconstruction is such as to require to use of tools, and disassembly andreassembly procedures to effect the alteration which are both timeconsuming and require some degree of skill.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the presentinvention to provide an improved fishing reel. 7

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedspinning reel.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedspinning reel which is easily and rapidly adjustable for right-hand orleft hand operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedspinning reel of the above nature characterized by its reliability,ruggedness, ease and convenience of use and operation and itsversatility and adaptability.-

The above and other objects of the present invention will becomeapparent from a reading of the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferredembodiment thereof.

In a sense the present invention contemplates the provision of afishing. reel comprising a rotatable takeup member, a drive member, andtransmission means having an output member coupled to said takeup memberand an input member coupled to said drive member for rotating saidtakeup member in a predetermined direction independently of thedirection of rotation of said drive member. Another feature of thepresent invention resides in the provision of a spinning reel comprisinga housing, a drive assembly contained in said housing and including anoutput shaft projecting forwardly of said housing and a transverselyextending input shaft, a crank mounted on said input shaft and disposedat a side of said housing, a bailcarrying rotor mounted on the forwardpart of said output shaft, a mounting bracket supporting said housingfor rotation about the axis of said output shaft, and means forselectively releasably lockin said housing to said bracket in aplurality of preselected positions.

According to a, preferred form of the improved reel, the mountingbracket includes a pair of upright legs between which the housing issupported for swinging about the axis of the output shaft. Ahand-manipulated element releasably locks the housing in positions withthe crank on opposite sides thereof. The takeup member is rotor-carriedbail mounted on the output shaft and a longitudinally reeiprocated spoolis coaxial with the output shaft and rotor. A pair of axially spacedpinion gears are freely rotatable on the output shaft and a pair ofpawls engage the gears and are rotatable with the output shaft andpermit slippage of the gears in a common direction. A crown gearconnected to the crank engages the pinion gears at opposite sides of thecrown gear.

The takeup member is rotated in a common forward direction independentlyof the direction of rotation of the hand crank and the housing is easilyrapidly adjusted to position the crank handle for left-hand orright-hand operation. Thus the need for tools or time consumingalterations, disassembly and reassembly of the reel to modify it forleft-hand or right-hand operation is completely obviated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevational view of aspinning reel embodying the present invention illustrated in aright-hand operating condition;

FIG. 2 is a rear end elevational view thereof, shown by broken line inan intermediate adjustment position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrated in left-handoperating condition;

FIG. 4 is a rear end elevational view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the rearsection of the reel;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 1; FIG. 10 is asectional view taken along line 10-10 in FIG. 9;

FIG.

FIG. 10;

FIG.

FIG.

FIG. 14;

FIG.

FIG. 14;

FIG. 14; and

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along line 19-19 in FIG. 14.

II is a sectional view taken along line 11-11 in FIG.

12 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 in FIG.

13 is a sectional view taken along line 13-13 in FIG. 14 is a sectionalview taken along line 14-14 in FIG.

15 is a sectional view taken along line 15-15 in FIG.

16 is a sectional view taken along line 16-16 in FIG.

17 is a sectional view taken along line 17-17 in FIG.

18 is a sectional view taken along line 18-18 in FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingwhich illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention thereference numeral 10 generally designates the improved spinning reelwhich comprises a pole-mounting bracket 11 which supports a drive andreel assembly 12 for swinging about the longitudinal axis thereof. Thebracket 11 is an integrally formed unit and includes a longitudinalpole-engaging base member 13, a post 14 projecting from base 13, and alongitudinal crossarm 16 provided at opposite ends with outwardlyprojecting parallel front and rear bracket arms 17 and 18 respectivelywhich define a yoke with crossarm l6 and have longitudinally alignedbores formed in the upper part thereof.

The reel and drive assembly 12 comprises a housing 19 extending betweenand swingably supported by bracket arms 17 and 18. The housing 19includes rectangular front and rear end walls 20 and 21 proximate frontand rear bracket arms 17 and 18 respectively, and integrally formedtopand bottom walls 22 and first sidewall 23, and a detachable secondsidewall 24 opposite sidewall 23 and separably secured at its corners tohousing 19 by suitable screws. Formed on rear end wall 21 is an enlargedsection provided with a tapped longitudinal bore which is engaged by thethreaded end section of a pivot pin 26 registering with the aperture inrear bracket arm 18 and provided with an enlarged head 27 and an innerlongitudinal slide bearing bore 28.

Housing front wall 20 has a longitudinal bore formed therein which is incoaxial registry with the aperture in bracket front arm 17 and a bushing29 engages said bore and aperture.

The inner end of bushing 29 is externally threaded and engaged by a hexnut 30 and the outer end of bushing 29 terminates in a bearing carryingenlarged cup-shaped head 32 adjacent the front face of bracket front arm17.

Formed in the outer face of housing rear wall 21 adjacent to oppositetop and bottom ends thereof are a pair of similar arcuate recesses 33. Avertical slot 34 is medially formed in rear bracket arm 18 below pivot26 and a pair of laterally spaced rearwardly directed apertured ears 36are positioned on opposite sides of slot 34 intermediate its top andbottom. A shaft 37 extends between and is joumaled in ears 36 and has acam or locking element 38 affixed thereon in registry with slot 34.Locking element 38 is sector shaped and has a peripheral border whichsubstantially complements end wall recess 33. A finger piece or lever 39is affixed to a free end of shaft 37 by a suitable setscrew andfacilitates the selective rotation of locking element 38 into and out ofengagement with a selected recess 33 thereby permitting the releasablelocking of housing 19 in 180 opposite position with sidewall 24 on therightor left-hand side, as desired. A screw 40 engages a tappedlongitudinal bore in the lower section of bracket arm 17 and has arearwardly facing well which houses a compression spring urging a detentelement 41 rearwardly into releasable engagement with a selectedconcavity 42 medially formed proximate opposite ends of housing frontwall 20.

Projecting through bussing 29 is a hollow longitudinal output shaft 43having an axial bore formed therein and being extemally threaded at itsfront end and provided with an externally threaded enlarged section 44adjacent the rear end of bussing 29, shaft 43 extending rearwardly to apoint short of rear wall 21. A pair of longitudinally spaced front andrear similar pinion gears 46 and 47 respectively are freely rotatablymounted on shaft 43 and are separated by a spacer sleeve 48 engagingshaft 43 between pinion gears 46 and 47. Front pinion gear 47 abuts therear face of a relatively larger ratchet wheel 49 affixed to shaft 43and engaging enlarged section 47 adjacent nut 30. Rear pinion gear 46abuts the front face of a disc 50 affixed to the rear end of shaft 43 bya setscrew locking a hub mounted on disc 50 to shaft 43.

Pivotally mounted on the rear face of ratchet wheel 49 is a pawl 51resiliently urged by a spring 52 into engagement with front pinion gear47 and is so oriented that when gear 47 is rotated clockwise, as viewedin FIG. 12, gear 47 slips pawl 51 to slip relative ratchet wheel 49 andwhen gear 47 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. pinion gear47 drive engages pawl 51 to positively rotate ratchet wheel 49. A pawl53 is pivotally mounted on the front face of disc 50 and is urged by aspring 54 into engagement with rear pinion gear 46 and is so orientedthat when pinion gear 46 rotates clockwise as viewed in FIG. 11 piniongear 46 drive engages pawl 53 to positively rotate disc 50 and whenpinion gear 46 rotates counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 16, piniongear 46' slips pawl 53 so that pinion gear 46 slips relative disc 50.Thus the rotation of pinion gears 46 and 47 in opposite directionsindependently of their individual directions of rotation, causes driveshaft 43 to be rotated in only one direction, that is counterclockwiseas viewed from the rear of the reel 10, such as in FIGS. 2 and 4; thatis shaft 43 will be rotated counterclockwise whether pinion gears 46 and47 are rotated clockwise and counterclockwise respectively orcounterclockwise and clockwise respectively.

The housing sidewall 24 has an outwardly directed sleeve 56 integrallyformed therewith at the level of the intermediate pinion gears 46 and47, and an input shaft 57 rotatably engages sleeve 56 and terminates atits outer end in an outwardly directed threaded shank 58 and at itsinner end in a coaxial shank 59 having a tapped axial bore. Shanks 58and 59 are delineated from shaft 57 by annular shoulders coplanar withthe inner and outer end faces of sleeve 56. A crown gear 60 affixed tothe inner end of shaft 57 engages at diametrically opposite sidesthereof pinion ears 46 and 47 and includes an integrally formed coaxialhub defining pinion gear 61 engaging shank 59 and secured thereto by ascrew 63 engaging the tapped bore of shank 59, shaft 57 being suitablylocked against axial movement.

A hand crank 64 includes a hub 65 engaging shank 58 and secured theretoby a pivot pin 66 engaging aligned transverse bores formed in shank 58and hub 65 to pennit the swinging of crank 64 about pin 66. In order tolock crank 64 in an operable position a hand rotatable cap member 67registers with sleeve 56 and includes an outer wall 68 having a tappedaxial bore engaging shank 58. The crank 64 is releasably locked in anoperable position by screwing cap 67 tightly against hub 65.

A pair of longitudinally spaced inwardly directed stub axles 69 and 70are suitably affixed to the inner face of housing wall 24 at the levelof pinion gear 61. An idler gear 71 is rotatable on axle 69 and engagespinion gear 61 and a crank gear 72 is rotatable on axle 70 and engagesidler gear 71. An inwardly directed eccentric pin 73 is mounted on crankgear 72.

A cup shaped rotor 74 is open at its front and includes an axiallyinwardly stepped rear wall 76 having a central aperture which engagesshaft 43 and is affixed to shaft 43 for rotation therewith by a nut 77engaging the threaded front end of shaft 43. A takeup bail arm 78 ofdesirable configuration is suitably mounted on rotor 74 for swingingbetween an advanced takeup position and a retracted casting position anda known mechanism is provided for automatically advancing bail arm 78 toits takeup position upon rotation of rotor 74. Opposite ends of bail arm78 are secured by means of end bracket members 79 affixed thereto whichbracket members are pivoted to diametrically opposed sections on theouter peripheral face of rotor 74.

A slide rod 80 extends through the bore of shaft 43, its rear endslideably engaging screw bore 28 and its front end coaxially projectinginto rotor 74. A spool member 81 is suitably mounted on the front ofslide rod 80 for axial movement therewith and is restricted against freerotation thereon by a drag adjusting knob 82 connected to slide rod 80forward of the front flange 83 of spool 81. A follower member 84 isaffixed to the rear part of slide rod 80 by a setscrew. Follower member84 has a transverse track or slot 86 which is slideably engaged byeccentric pin 73 so that rotation of crank gear 72 longitudinallyreciprocates follower member 84 and slide rod 80 to reciprocate spool 81in rotor 74.

An antireverse assembly of known construction is associated with ratchetwheel 49 and includes a finger piece 87 slideably engaging alongitudinal slot in housing wall 24 and has a mounting plate 88 securedto its inner face. A spring loaded pawl 89 is pivoted to plate 88 and ismovable by means of finger piece 87 into and out of engagement withratchet wheel 49.

The operation of the improved spinning reel is clear from the above. Therotation of hand crank 64 rotates pinion gears 46 and 47 by way of inputshaft 57 and crown gear 60 in opposite directions. Only that pinion gearwhich is rotated in a forward direction is drive coupled to shaft 80through the overrunning clutches including pawls 51 and 53 so that shaft80 and the takeup assembly including rotor 74 and bail arm 78 is rotatedin only one direction. Thus the switching of the reel between right-handto left-hand operation is accomplished merely by swinging lock elementto a release position by means of finger lever 39, swinging housing 19,about its longitudinal axis until 41 engages corresponding recess 42 tobring crank handle 64 in the respective opposite side of the reel andthen locking the housing 19 in its adjusted position by turning fingerpiece 39.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterationsomissions and additions may be made without departing from the spiritthereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A fishing reel comprising a rotatable takeup member, a crank,transmission means having an output member coupled to said takeup memberand an input member coupled to said crank for rotating said takeupmember in -a predetermined direction independently of the direction ofrotation of said crank, a housing containing said transmission means,said crank being positioned transversely of said housing and said outputmember comprising a shaft projecting longitudinally from said housing, amounting bracket including a pair of longitudinally spaced front andrear arms, said housing being supported between said bracket arms forrotation about the axis of said output shaft, and manually operablemeans for selectively releasably locking said housing against rotationin 180 opposite positions with said crank being disposed on respectiveopposite sides of said bracket.

2. The reel of claim 1 wherein said housing has a pair of recessesformed in the rear wall thereof on opposite side of the axis of rotationof said housing and said locking means includes a cam member supportedby said bracket rear wall and rotatable into selective engagement withsaid recesses, and an operating lever connected to said cam.

3. The reel of claim 1 wherein said output shaft projects forwardly ofsaid front bracket arm and said takeup member comprises a bail supportedby said shaft for rotation therewith.

4. The reel of claim 1 wherein said transmission means comprises a pairof overrunning clutches having output sections coupled to said shaft andassociated input sections and oriented to slip in a common direction ofrotation, and means coupling said clutch input sections to saidtransmission input member for driving said clutch input sections inopposite directions.

5. The reel of claim 4 wherein said clutch input sections compriseaxially spaced first gears freely rotatably mounted on said outputshaft, said clutch output sections comprise pawls mounted on said shaftfor rotation therewith and engaging respective of said first gears andsaid coupling means comprises a crown gear engaging said first gears andconnected to said transmission input member.

6. A spinning reel comprising a housing, a drive assembly contained insaid housing andincluding an output shaft projecting forwardly of saidhousing and a transversely extending input shaft, a crank mounted onsaid input shaft and disposed at a side of said housing, a bail-carryingrotor mounted on the forward part of said output shaft, a mountingbracket supporting said housing for rotation about the axis of saidoutput shaft, and means for selectively releasably locking said housingto said bracket in a plurality of preselected positions, said bracketincluding a pair of longitudinally spaced from and rear anns, saidhousing being supported between said arms, said output shaft projectingforwardly of said front arm and said rotor being disposed forwardly ofsaid front arm, and said locking means being mounted on said rear armand being manually movable between lock and unlock positions.

1. A fishing reel comprising a rotatable takeup member, a crank,transmission means having an output member coupled to said takeup memberand an input member coupled to said crank for rotating said takeupmember in a predetermined direction independently of the direction ofrotation of said crank, a housing containing said transmission means,said crank being positioned transversely of said housing and said outputmember comprising a shaft projecting longitudinally from said housing, amounting bracket including a pair of longitudinally spaced front andrear arms, said housing being supported between said bracket arms forrotation about the axis of said output shaft, and manually operablemeans for selectively releasably locking said housing against rotationin 180* opposite positions with said crank being disposed on respectiveopposite sides of said bracket.
 2. The reel of claim 1 wherein saidhousing has a pair of recesses formed in the rear wall thereof onopposite side of the axis of rotation of said housing and said lockingmeans includes a cam member supported by said bracket rear wall androtatable into selective engagement with said recesses, and an operatinglever connected to said cam.
 3. The reel of claim 1 wherein said outputshaft projects forwardly of said front bracket arm and said takeupmember comprises a bail supported by said shaft for rotation therewith.4. The reel of claim 1 wherein said transmission means comprises a pairof overrunning clutches having output sections coupled to said shaft andassociated input sections and oriented to slip in a common direction ofrotation, and means coupling said clutch input sections to saidtransmission input member for driving said clutch input sections inopposite directions.
 5. The reel of claim 4 wherein said clutch inputsections comprise axially spaced first gears freely rotatably mounted onsaid output shaft, said clutch output sections comprise pawls mounted onsaid shaft for rotation therewith and engaging respective of said firstgears and said coupling means comprises a crown gear engaging said firstgears and connected to said transmission input member.
 6. A spinningreel comprising a housing, a drive assembly contained in said housingand including an output shaft projecting forwardly of said housing and atransversely extending input shaft, a crank mounted on said input shaftand disposed at a side of said housing, a bail-carrying rotor mounted onthe forward part of said output shaft, a mounting bracket supportingsaid housing for rotation about the axis of said output shaft, and meansfor selectively releasably locking said housing to said bracket in aplurality of preselected positions, said bracket including a pair oflongitudinally spaced front and rear arms, said housing being supportedbetween said arms, said output shaft projecting forwardly of said frontarm and said rotor being disposed forwardly of said front arm, and saidlocking means being mounted on said rear arm and being manually movablebetween lock and unlock positions.